Oswego Opera Theater to Present Brundibár

Oswego Opera Theater will be presenting the children’s opera Brundibar at the Frances Marion Brown Theater, Friday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m.

Brundibar is a poignant and historically significant children’s opera that emerged from the darkest period of human history – the Holocaust. Composed by Hans Krasa, with libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister,  Brundbar was performed over 50 times in the Terezin concentration camp located in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.

The simple plot revolves around two poor siblings, Eloise and Annette, who need to buy milk for their sick mother. They decide to sing in the town square, but they encounter Brundibar, the bullying busker, who drives them away because he wants the square for himself. The children seek help from various animals and local children, they outwit Brundibar, claim their place in the square, and get the needed money.

Brundibar carries profound allegorical significance as it symbolizes the resilience of the human spirit against oppression and injustice. The struggle against Brundibar represents the fight against the forces of fascism during World War II, with the children embodying hope, solidarity, and the power of collective action.

Many of the children who participated inn the Terezin performances were later deported to Auschwitz and other extermination camps, and most perished. But the legacy of Brundibar continues as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of art in the face of tyranny.

The production, directed by Juan Francisco LaManna, will feature a small ensemble, and will feature Annilea Murphy as Eloise, Katie Auler as Annette, Megan Adelman as Brundibar, Helen McDonald as the sparrow, Lexi Prosser as the cat, and Abby Adelman as the dog.

This opera is part of a double bill with The Oswego Players, which will present The Arkansaw Bear - a children’s play by Aurand Harris that blends realism and fantasy, pathos, and humor.

Tickets are available at The Oswego Player’s Box Office at (315) 343-5138, or visit oswegoplayers.org.